“PUT A RING AROUND SUNDAY”

“Put a ring around Sunday” is the article in the paper called. (The Northland Age, Thursday, June 2, 2011)

It is an invitation to pop along to the weekly competition of the Waipapakauri Bowling Club on SUNDAY.

I say also “Put a ring around Sunday.”

BUT THIS IS AN INVITATION TO GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY!

I am very much interested in the church. I like to learn about the church.

In his book One Hundred Bible Lessons Alban Douglas gives five

CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH:

“1. Repentance, Acts 2:38. 2. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour,  Lord and Son of God, Matthew 16:16-18,  3. Salvation, regeneration, the new birth, Acts 2:47. 4. Baptism in the Name of the Trinity, Acts 2:38; Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47,48; Acts 22:16.  5. Continuance in the Apostles’ doctrine, Acts 2:42. They lived according to the Scripture.”

He also says this about Church Discipline:

“Church discipline is like the weather. We talk a great deal about it but seldom do anything about it. Paul expected Christians to use church courts, not government courts. (First Corinthians 6:1-3)”

“Discipline means taking corrective measures as punishment in order to maintain the good conduct of church members. This is a practice seldom made effective in the churches today.” He asks, “Why?” and then asks six questions.

Here they are:

“Is it because we have grown weak and cold and fear to act on our principles?”

” Is it because we have all attained a state of perfection and no longer require it?”

“Is it because our churches are afraid of losing church members?”

“Are we afraid that the church income will be reduced if we punish sin?”

“Do we love popularity, money, large churches, easy times, more than holiness?”

“Are we afraid of calling ‘sin’ “SIN” and thus condone the evil of fellow believers?”

“The Apostolic Church was strong because it was pure.

Our modern church is weak because we have compromised our position and condoned sin in the members.”